The EU's former foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has been accused of fraud as part of an EU investigation into the misuse of funds, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has said.
The EPPO stated that searches were carried out on Tuesday at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, where Ms. Mogherini currently serves as head, and at the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels, the office she led from 2014 to 2019.
The investigation concerns EU-funded training programs for junior diplomats. Mogherini, along with a senior College of Europe employee and a senior European Commission official, were detained but later released as they were not considered flight risks; their homes were also searched.
According to the EPPO, the three individuals were formally notified of the accusations, which include procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and violation of professional secrecy.
The investigation focuses on a tender issued by the EEAS to the College of Europe for a training course that allegedly displayed strong suspicions of favoritism. The EPPO, dedicated to investigating crimes against the financial interests of the EU, noted that the immunity of several suspects was lifted to facilitate the inquiry.
The College of Europe, an independent institution aimed at training future EU civil servants, is closely linked with the EU and partially funded by it. Mogherini's situation raises significant questions about oversight and accountability in EU institutional engagements.
